David’s class at Temple Close Nursery School in Bloxham took a field trip to a farm, and sent these photos of the trip home with him.

The photos in and of themselves aren’t really that special, but when I see them all I can think of is the book, “All Creatures Great and Small” by James Herriot.

When I was growing up I read most of James Herriot’s books, and watched the entire PBS TV series of the same name – and we own the DVD collection today.

James Herriot’s stories of farm animals and the quirky folks that he had to deal with always combined the two elements of drama and humor in every story he told – set in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.

David stands in front of a horse in this picture which reminds me exactly of a film set from the PBS series, “All Creatures Great and Small.”

The barn’s setting looks as if it hasn’t changed or been updated in a hundred years – and rural farm life brings with it a certain “reality” that is often missing in our modern antiseptic lifestyle.

Life on a farm from years ago was difficult work, with few rewards other than knowing you put in an honest day’s work – and that still holds true for modern farm families around the world today.

The reality is that life itself is often hard, dirty, difficult work – and oftentimes folks aren’t ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

One thing to always keep in mind when modern life seems to be wearing you down – it can always become more demanding – so look for your joy, self-fulfillment and personal achievements in each and every place you can find them.

There is joy in the knowing that you’re still alive and able to take in the beauty of life all around you – and to appreciate the gift of a new life that’s come into this world – like this kid goat.

After all, life is a precious gift in and of itself, and don’t ever let yourself reach the point where you can’t seem to appreciate that – because it’s the journey that counts in the end, no matter how difficult the course you’ve had to run. 🙂

’Life, Love and the Human Condition’ by Mark D. Jones

Welcome to my world! This blog is a place to capture all of the creative areas of my life into one spot that you can visit any time you like, and allow you to pause for a moment during the course of your day. You can see in the "categories section" the many creative interests that I have in my life - which I add to on a regular basis. Join with me in pondering the meaning of, "Life, Love and the Human Condition." So grab a cup of coffee or tea and spend a few minutes with me in my world...you may find it interesting and want to stay awhile! Enjoy!